Context

India’s maiden winter expedition at the Arctic have put the focus back on cooperation with Arctic circle countries and related governance architecture.

About Arctic Council

• The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. It was formally established in 1996.
• All Arctic Council decisions and statements require consensus of the eight Arctic States.
• The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental body set up in 1996 by the Ottawa declaration to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States together with the indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.
• Arctic Councilis an intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.
• At present, eight countries exercise sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic Circle.
• Members of Arctic Council are- Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and United States.
• Headquarters of Arctic Circle is located at Tromso, Norway.
• Permanent participants:
  • Aleut International Association (AIA),
  • Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)
  • Gwich'in Council International (GCI)
  • Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)
  • Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPN)
  • Saami Council
• India has observer status since 2013.